Overview
Climb the fortress of Masada, put a note in the Kotel in Jerusalem, lay on the beaches of Tel Aviv, and drink tea in a Bedouin tent in the Negev desert as you travel across the beautiful, diverse landscape of Israel.
Climb the fortress of Masada, put a note in the Kotel in Jerusalem, lay on the beaches of Tel Aviv, and drink tea in a Bedouin tent in the Negev desert as you travel across the beautiful, diverse landscape of Israel.
For over 60 years USY has taken hundreds of teens to Israel and beyond, connecting them to the Jewish homeland. By experiencing Israel’s beauty and power alongside their peers, taking part in a variety of fun adventurous outdoor activities, and engaging in interesting educational discussions, teens will gain a new appreciation, understanding, and love for the Jewish homeland.
In addition to the basic Israel trip USY offers varying programs including authentic Israeli experiences and social-action focused trips, on which teens can meet and personally touch the lives of Israeli citizens, experiencing the country in a very unique and meaningful way.
We also offer combination trips, where teens can visit part of Europe and explore other significant sights of Jewish history before traveling to Israel. Destinations in Europe include Italy, Poland, Prague, and Germany.
USY Israel Pilgrimage programs are open to teens currently in grades 10-12.
Each group is co-ed and will include 20-45 teens.
Groups are led by five to seven staff members including a group leader, North American counselors, an Israeli counselor, and an Israeli medic. All staff members are qualified advisors, youth directors, teachers, and Conservative rabbis.
Additional support staff in Israel includes various knowledgeable lecturers, tour guides, and other USY personnel. All USY Summer Experience staff participates in an intensive training seminar prior to the trip.
Teens travel on a fully equipped motor coach, driven by professionals. Whenever possible, we maintain the same drivers throughout the summer.
The safety and well-being of our teens has always been, and continues to be, our highest priority. Matters of security always take precedence over all other concerns.
Throughout the summer, trip itineraries are adapted as the situation dictates, in a manner to assure the safety of all participants. Changes to the trip may include travels routes, accommodations, and escalation of USY security protocols. We always scrupulously avoid “unsafe” destinations and venues. Our safety record is impeccable as we have decades of experience operating programs under all circumstances. For more information on our security protocols, please see the security Q&A.
While traveling, teens will have the opportunity to taste the flavors of Israel. Three full, kosher meals and numerous snacks are provided each day. Food is provided by various caterers, hotels, and restaurants throughout Israel. Additionally, in some cities participants will be able to go out on their own for meals at select (delicious!) kosher restaurants.
Teens stay in hotels and youth hostels, dormitory-style bases, field schools and kibbutz guesthouses. Additionally, two weeks of the trip are spent in Jerusalem, duration which time it’s our hope that the city will feel like a second home for participants.
During the course of the summer, teens will participate in 6 hours volunteer work with “Pioneer Of Tzedakah” Danny Siegel. Past projects include serving meals at soup kitchens, picking vegetables with Leket Yisrael for the hungry, and working with children with disabilities.
For teens who prefer more intensive service-focused travel, we offer L’Takayn Olam, which offers 35+ hours of volunteer work and the chance to experience Israel in a truly one-of-a-kind way— by meeting and helping Israel’s people through hands-on service and social action projects. Past projects include:
To get an idea of a typical day on Wheels, check out daily group updates from past summers.
The cost of USY Israel Pilgrimage includes round trip flights from New York to Israel, room and board, an approved Israeli medical plan, sightseeing tours with professional guides, gratuities and admission fees. (Personal expenses and extra personal baggage are additional.)
Scholarships are available through USY regions, local congregations and their affiliated groups. For further information contact your synagogue, regional USY directory, or visit our scholarship database and Ways to Save page.
If you have any questions about this or other USY summer programs, e-mail us at [email protected].
**Based on 2016 itinerary. All schedules and activities are subject to change.
TRIP DAY | LOCATION | ACTIVITIES |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | New York | Depart from New York airport |
Day 2 | Yemin Moshe, Jerusalem | Arrive in Jerusalem; Settle into hotel and bond over dinner |
Day 3 | Tel Maresha & Beit Guvrin | Take part in archaeological dig; Spelunk in ancient Tel Maresha tunnels; Swim at Kibbutz Beit Guvrin |
Day 4 | Jerusalem | Explore Jerusalem from the Second Temple period; Visit the Israel Museum; Tour the Herodian Mansions; Explore the Southern part of the Western Wall (Kotel) |
Day 5 | Jerusalem | Explore Jerusalem from the First Temple period; Visit The City of David; Tour Hezekiah's Tunnel; Prepare for Shabbat |
Day 6 | Jerusalem | Celebrate Shabbat |
Day 7 | Carmel & Haifa | Experience Druze Hospitality; Visit the Haifa Overlook and Bahai Gardens |
Day 8 | Acco & Western Galilee | Tour city of Acco; Visit Rosh Hanikrah: Ride in cable cars & tour grottos; Visit Keshet Cave |
Day 9 | Lower Galilee | Hike Mount Arbel; Swim at Blue Beach; Take a donkey ride at Kfar Kedem; Visit the Kinneret cemetery |
Day 10 | Upper Galilee | Visit the Metulla overlook; Hike Nachal Snir; Kayak in the Jordan River; Visit Kibbutz Neot Mordechai; Explore Tiberias |
Day 11 | Golan Heights | Hike Majraseh Nature Reserve; Visit Mitzpe Gadot, former Syrian bunker; See the views from Mount Bental |
Day 12 | Tzfat | Tour city of Tzfat; Prepare for Shabbat |
Day 13 | Degania Alef | Celebrate Shabbat at Kibbutz Degania |
Day 14 | Tel Aviv | Visit Independence Hall and Rabin Square; Tour the Olympic Museum |
Day 15 | Tel Aviv | Visit Old Jaffa; Learn about Israel's start-up business culture; Visit Dialogue in the Dark exhibit and learn about blindness |
Day 16 | Sderot | Volunteer on a tzedakah project with Mitzvah Man Danny Siegel |
Day 17 | Jerusalem | Visit Ammunition Hill and Har Herzl |
Day 18 | Jerusalem & Ben Shemen Forest | Visit Yad Vashem; Compete in the USY HaEvent games |
Day 19 | Free Weekend | Teens leave for free weekend |
Day 20 | Free Weekend | Celebrate Shabbat |
Day 21 | Latrum & Kfar Hanokdim | Visit Latrum hilltop; Take a camel ride; Experience life in a Bedouin Tent |
Day 22 | Massada/ Ein Gedi | Hike Massada at sunrise; Hike Ein Gedi and Nachal David; Swim in the Dead Sea |
Day 23 | Eilat | Tour Coral World Underwater Observatory; Swim and go snorkeling in the Red Sea Coral Reef; Dance and tour Eilat at night on a disco boat |
Day 24 | Sde Boker & Negev Desert | Visit David Ben Gurion's hut & grave site Engage in an outdoor desert experience with navigation and survival excercises |
Day 25 | Negev Desert | Complete outdoor desert experience; Go for a hike at Ramon Crater & plant trees |
Day 26 | Ashdod | Relax on the beach; Prepare for Shabbat |
Day 27 | Jerusalem | Celebrate Shabbat |
Day 28 | Jerusalem | Volunteer at Yad Lekashish (Lifeline for the Old); Go shopping in Jerusalem; Celebrate summer's end with final banquet |
Day 29 | New York | Depart from airport/Arrive in New York |